Q&A

allison

With a subject "vosotros" why would the imperative ever be "a lavarse el pelo"?

Alan

Kwiziq community member

15 May 2018

15/05/18

As I understand the lesson, with vosotros you do say "a lavaros". But if you don't want to be specific or you want to be polite, you use "a lavarse".

Alan

Kwiziq community member

15 May 2018

15/05/18

I want to modify my answer to your question! I interpret the lesson to mean you can use lavarse with any group of people (including 'vosotros' people) but you can also be more specific if you want to and use lavaros with vosotros people. I guess using lavaros with 'ustedes' people would be impolite !

Inma

Kwiziq language super star

15 May 2018

15/05/18

As Alan said on his first comment, using the specific pronoun "os" that refers to "vosotros" is also correct, but, as explained in the lesson, this structure "a + infinitive" is used in a more general way. When the verb is a pronominal one, e.g lavarse, and still using this structure in a general way, directed to people in general, you keep the general reflexive pronoun (se).

Here are other similar examples:

¡A ducharse! Have a shower!

¡A peinarse! Comb your hair!

¡A concentrarse! Concentrate!

I hope this clarifies your doubt.

Inma

Inma

Kwiziq language super star

15 May 2018

15/05/18

Hi Alan

Thanks for your comments.

With formal pronouns usted or ustedes we don't use this structure, we would use the subjunctive form instead.